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Thursday, February 10, 2011

"Love Birds" or Rice-Filled Heating Pads for Children

Update: This pattern is now being sold in my Etsy store!

The other day a flock of "Love Birds" descended upon our home. These are not typical Love Birds, but I think it is an apt description none-the-less. After all, they are birds and we are giving them to our grandchildren with a whole lotta love!

For awhile now I've been trying to think of a little present I could make for our grandchildren for Valentine's Day. I wanted to make something that would remind them of my husband and I, so I naturally gravitated to something that would hold them, hug them, and keep them warm -- just like us.

Last month I made a few Rice-Filled Heating Pads for some special adults in my life. I thought about those and then decided to make a "child's version" for our grandchildren for Valentine's Day. As a result, this here flock was created...

I started, like I usually do, with paper and pencil...

That crude drawing took on a more polished look, and from that sketch a pattern was developed. I've been told that children who use rice-filled heating pads love them. The warmth of a heating pad can soothe a child's achy muscles or ease the pain of a stomach ache. It can keep a child warm on a cold night, and it can even be used to gently warm up a baby's crib before he goes to bed. (Remove the heating pad before the baby is placed in the crib, and always check the mattress temperature.) I'm certain a rice filled heating pad is not nearly as good as being held by a loving grandparent, but hopefully having their very own "Love Birds" will remind them that they are loved!

Did you notice that the tummy of these Love Birds are in the shape of a heart? I thought that was an appropriate touch for Valentine's Day!

The back of the birdie is made of flannel -- soft, cuddly, and warm. The front is made from cotton fabrics. (Make sure you use cotton fabrics when you make your Love Bird because synthetic fabrics -- like Minky -- can melt in the microwave!) Just pop the birdie in the microwave for 60-90 seconds and when it emerges it is warm and toasty!

These Love Birds will soon fly off and wend their way toward our grandchildren spread throughout the U.S. It makes me feel good to know that they will hold these on Valentine's day and know that they are loved.

I've decided to offer this pattern and some brief instructions on how to make this

"Love Bird Heating Pad"

available to all!

Click here to be transported to my Etsy store to receive this PDF pattern for "Love Birds" -- a rice-filled heating pad for children.

If your little one doesn't use his "Love Bird" as a heating pad,
it could definitely double as a bookend! ;o)

When I first saw these my immediate thought was that my 12 year old (who is currently obsessed with owls) would LOVE one. She just woke up and saw these on the computer screen and said, "Those are SO cute. Mom, can you make me one?"

I would love the pattern, but I KNOW mine would never be as cute as yours. Would you ever sell them in your etsy shop?

These are so adorable!!! I have a rice filled heating pad that I use often in the winter to warm my feet in bed! it's definitely not as cute as yours! I am trying to download the pattern but having trouble... :(

Thank You!My daughter just yesterday brought down her old dingy one that I made (that she uses every night) 8 years ago and asked me to fix all the little holes before she loses the rice. These owls would be way cuter!!

So ADORABLE!! My 4 girls would LOVE these! Thanks SO much for sharing your talent with us! I too have had trouble downloading. Even though I am signed in after it tries to load awhile it says it can't retrieve the document:(

You are absolutely what I needed today! My dear friend and beloved next door neighbor is moving away, and I'm having a difficult time letting her go. My youngest son alos has a very close relationship with her, and he's been trying to find something he can make for her to take. This will be just the thing! They'll both love it.

these are adorable! can i be an honorary grandkid? :o)kidding...i'm definitely going to have to whip up some of these for my kiddos...they love them some "who-who's" (my 2 year old's words)thanks so much for the pattern!

This is for kids. I want one for me. Probably TMI but I could use a new rice bag heating for you know that time and that one is so much cutier that the long rectangle I did have. I like to add some aromatherpy oils to mine. It would probably work well with kids too.

Absolutely positively genius and adorable. I should get a brain and figure out how to make these. Grace and Dani would love them. Literally, every other night they have some ache or pain or are cold!! I could give them a "hootie" and say night night!! love m

Hi Suzanne! These are soooo cute! Hey, I thought of you immediately when I saw Ty Pennington is making fabrics now and some is being given away to commenters on the Cloth, Paper, Scissors blog. The patterns in the fabrics have your name all over them. Info all in the link on my last post...

Oh, those are too cute! Excellent job on designing them. I LOVE my rice pack. Best thing since sliced bread. I love to warm my feet with it in bed and it does help to soothe and send me off to sleep when I warm my tummy with it.

I LOVE your website. Every time I look at it I just can't believe how much I love your style. I'm glad you share so much of what you do because I have a hard time pin pointing my own style. After seeing all of the things you do I think I like pretty much the same style as you. lol.

These owls are SO cute. I think both of my little boys would love one. The problem is actually making it as cute as you have made them.

Oh how CUTE!! My daughter is doing her 2 little girls' room in owls and that would be just the perfect little special thing from "Memee". :) I tried to down load the pattern but it wasn't working ..I'll try to get my husband to see if its me or the computer..:/ that isn't doing something right. LOL

I just love owls. I just made a rice filled owl bookend last week for my daughter. Yours are incredibly cute. I found you through Just a Girl. I am your latest follower. I would love for you to come and check out my blog and follow me back at www.diybydesign.blogspot.com. Thanks so much.

Suzanne, every time you do a project, it becomes my new favourite! I LOVE (no, I really really mean LOVE) these gorgeous owl heating pads!! You are such a generous lady for sharing your pattern and tutorial. I cannot wait to make one each for our girls to cuddle when winter comes around. Hope you have a wonderful weekend ~ Tina xx

I absolutely LOVE this gift idea. I've been using a rice filled sock for an injury recently and my kids keep "borrowing" it. I had thought it would be fun to make them their own rice bags. Now I just HAVE to do it!!!!! And I have time tomorrow!

How cute are these??!!! Thank you for sharing your talents! I've downloaded the pattern...I sure wish I had seen these last week...I would have made them for the grandkids for Valentines...oh well, I'll shot for Easter. Thank you again!!Shantel @www.itsapricelesslife.blogspot.com

I had grand plans to make these as soon as I saw your post! And then life happened. But, there's a good chance I'll be up late tonight sewing a pair of these for my boys. Thank you so much for sharing your pattern and brilliant idea!

Thank you so much for the rice heating pad pattern. My daughter loves owls and she is going to be baptized this summer. I'm going to make her one to remind her of what the holy ghost makes you feel like. All warm and comforting! Thanks again, Shelley

OH my goodness, these are adorable!! I HAVE to make one of these for my son! He always complains of his legs hurting and this would be wonderful for him!! Thanks so much for sharing these fabulous heating pads at Anything Related!

these are absolutely beautiful! I am definitely featuring them on Handmade Features. Come get a badge if you want to :) Thanks so much for linking up to Handmade Tuesdays @ Ladybug Blessings www.ladybug-blessings.com

Wonderful! I hope you do not mind, but when I make this for my daughter who LOVES penguins, I am going to alter the pattern to round off his head (no ears)to make it more penguin like! Thank you so much for the pattern!

I downloaded your pattern (Thank you) and reduced it 50% and made them for my grandkids. They are always going to the freezer to pull out the cold packs to put on boo boos and the pack I have are larger ones. So I made these and they turned out about the size of your hand with your fingers extended. They love them and they are just the right size for a toddler. Thanks again.

Suzanne-Just letting you know that I made one of these for my neighbor's 20 year old daughter who was in an auto accident today. I teamed it with a romance novel (she's a romance junky like me), a bottle of habanero jelly, and a tag with a little note about heat therapy. The love bird was a HUGE hit.

Thanks! My sister in law is expecting and I'm throwing her an owl themed baby shower. I've been obsessed with anything owl lately. They're so cute! This will make a perfect gift for her to warm up the crib when the little one arrives.

What a wonderful gift for your grandchildren. I love that it was handmade by you. I had already sent off my valentines gift to my grandchildren, but I am going to put this at the top of my to-do list for next year. I am going to download this now before I forget!

I just saw these cute owls and they are adorable.I am a new sewer and was thrilled with your pattern that you shared and hopefully they are fairly easy to do.Thank you so much for your kind generosity.

Hi from your newest follower...These are so ADORABLE as a Nana I can truly appreciate cute ideas to help the babes...Thank you for sharing ♥Rachel http://www.ourcreativehands.comhttp://www.facebook.com/ourcreativehandshttp://ourcreativehands.blogspot.com

Super cute owls!!! Will definatley help the Boo...hoooosss when ouchies happen. My daughter loved looking at all of your pictures too! You grandkids are sure to love them!All the Best...M... @ RequireLife

These are not only practical, but oh so adorable. I think my little one has been experiencing some growing pains at night, so this might be a nice little companion for her. Thank your for your generosity in sharing the pattern.

I can't thank you enough for the freebie pattern. My daughter has been wanting me to make her a rice bag for ages and I love owls. I just can't draw at all so this is awesome. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

My 2 year old suffers severe reflux and currently uses my old worn wheat bag to hep soothe her tummy at night. I can't wait to make her a gorgeous girly owl heat bag (and reclaim my own!). Thank you so much for the pattern!!!

These are so cute! I am going to have my crafty fellow teacher help me make them so that we can each have one for our kindergarten classrooms. I think these will be great for comforting the children who aren't feeling well but aren't sick enough to be sent home!

These are so adorable! I absolutely am smitten with owls! Great gift idea for the kiddos for not only V-day, but Christmas too! Thanks for the free tutorial. Gonna have to add these to my Christmas Gift List this year :)

I have tried to print this file 4 times from google docs. Pages 1 and 3 keeping coming out completely black. I must be doing something wrong. Could you possibly send me this file and the love bird files as pdf's? I want to use this with some ladies at church for a beginning sewing project this week. Some ladies have asked me to show them how to be crafty and I thought this would be a great get to know your sewing machine project. I think these are so cute. Don't worry no money is changing hands and I am also going to teach them about finding patterns on blogs like yours. Thanks in advance for the help.

Thanks for posting these! So cute...I am having an owl themed birthday for my 2 year old, I am planning on making these as favors. Still debating on whether I should make them as pillows or stuff with rice. But I can figure that out later. These really are so cute!

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